Level



(No Model.)

J. A. TRAUT.

LEVEL.

Patented Ju1y'17, 1894.

Inventor: Justus Jllfi'aut. 13y ZZI'SJHW 2 Witu esses UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE.

JUSTUS A. TRAUT, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,022, dated July 17,1894.

Application filed February 3, 1894. Serial No. 498,990. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J USTUS A. TRAUT, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLevels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of levels known as spirit-levels.

The object of this invention is to provide, in connection with alevel-stock and levelglass, a simple and efficient device forfacilitating the true sighting of the bubble in the level-glass, eitherwhen viewed from above in the usual manner, or when viewed through theside openings in the stock; and to so construct the sight-device that insighting any deviation from a center line bisecting the bubble atrightjangles to its length will be instantly noticed, and may be quicklyremedied, thus insuring accuracy in sighting.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan view of alevel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken indotted lineaa, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the levelas seen from a point in alignment with the dotted division line bb shownin Fig. 1.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures.

The level comprises the usual level-stock B, recessed longitudinally atits upper side midway of its length to receive a level-glass, E, whichmay be secured therein in any usual manner, said level-stock having theusual side-openings, 3 and 4., through which the level-glass may beviewed from either side of the stock.

Secured to the upper face of the level-stock, preferably by means ofscrews, is a guardplate, D, which is centrally and longitudinallyslotted orrecessed, as shown at 2, to form the sight-opening throughwhich the bubble, e, in the level-glass may be viewed from above. Thisplate (which will be hereinafter termed the sight-plate) has twooppositely-disposed inwardly and downwardly proj ecting points, 5 and 6,preferably V-shaped, and terminating in close proximity to thelevel-glass, and extending inwardly beyond the outer edges of the bubblee when this is in its middle position in the glass. These sight-points 5and 6 are shown formed at opposite sides of the sightopening 2, as shownmost clearly in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, and project inwardly anddownwardly sufficiently so that they may be readily seen either fromabove or below the plate D, thereby enabling the user to observe, bycomparison of said points, whether the bubble is accurately located,with said points centrally 0f the length thereof, irrespective of thepoint of observation.

When looking at the bubble from the side of the level, the points notonly serve, in the manner before described, forlocating the bubble, butalso, in consequence of their relation one to the other, for accuratelyshowing the correctness of the point of vision with relation to astraight line drawn through the center of the bubble at right angles toits length, thereby avoiding error in the reading of the same. Forinstance, when reading the level, if the point of vision of the user isat one side of a line drawn through the centers of the two points 5 and6 (as when the sight is taken in alignment with the dotted line bb,Fig. 1) both of said points will be Visible, as illustrated in Fig. 4,and the user will be cognizant of the fact that his line of vision isnot correct; by moving his position so that the nearest point 6 entirelyhides the point 5, said error in observation is corrected, and he isenabled to obtain a correct observation of the exact location of thebubble.

The sightplate will preferably be constructed of sheet metal, stamped tothe form illustrated in Fig. 1, with a central opening 2 therein andwithinwardly projecting points with their apexes in alignmenttransversely of the plate; which points will be subsequently bentdownward, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a level, thecombination with the levelstock and with the level-glass securedtherein, of two oppositely-disposed inwardly projecting fixed pointsterminating remote from each other adjacent to the level-glass and inexact alignment at right angles to the longitudinal axis of thelevel-glass, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a level, the combination with the lonthe purpose set forth.

gitudinal and transversely recessed levelstock, and with "thelevel-glass secured therein, of two oppositely-disposedinwardly-projecting fixed points terminating adjacent to the level-glassat points below the upper surface of the level-stock and in exactalignment at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the level-glass,substantially as described and for 3. In a level, the combination withthe levelstock and the level-glass secured therein, of a longitudinallyslotted plate secured to the level-stock and having oppositely-disposedinwardly-proj ectin g fixed points terminating remote from each other,in a line at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the level-glassand extending below the lower face of said plate 3 in close proximity tothe level glass, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

4:. The herein-described sight-device for levels, it consisting of aplate havinga lon'gi- 1 tudinal sight-opening and having integralopposi'tely-disposed inwardly and downwardlyprojecting points or barbsterminating remote from each other, in a line at 'right'angles to thelongitudinal axis of said sight-opening, substantially as described andfor the purpos set forth.

5. The herein-described-level, it comprising a stock B recessedvertically and longitudinally to receive the level-glass and having theside-openings 3 and 4, and a. longitudinally- J USTUS A. TRAUT.

Witnesses;

FRANCIS I-I. RICHARDS, FRED. J. DOLE.

